For students interested in studying agriculture after secondary school, the last few weeks of open days may have provided them with clarity as to where they want to go and what they want to study. For others, it may not. While it is early days when it comes to applying for courses in September 2018, closing dates come around fast.
Teagasc open day season kicked off on 5 October with Gurteen and the Botanic Gardens, and concluded last Friday in Clonakilty. Numbers attending these open days proved strong and feedback was positive. But what did the colleges themselves think of the events?
Botanic Gardens
Open day: 5 October
Attendance: 50
Principal: John Mulhern
Botanic Gardens, along with Kildalton, is the main educational driver behind horticulture in Teagasc. A more specific industry, the open day provided attendees with everything they needed to know. The event next March will be similar, according to college principal John Mulhern.
“We had a lot of people who are very interested in the horticulture industry. We are now gearing up towards our careers day in March of 2018, when we will be hosting a dual-purpose career open day, which should attract young people.”
Mountbellew
Open day: 11 October
Attendance: 130
Principal: Tom Burke
Mountbellew launched its new Level 8 agricultural engineering course at this year’s Ploughing, with the course also taking centre stage at this year’s open day. Mountbellew continues to develop its reputation for agricultural learning and the development of this course, in conjunction with GMIT, strengthens this. Heading up the course is Dr Carine Gachon, who is encouraged by the level of interest shown so far: “Nineteen students are enrolled in first year, and have started this September. That number is expected to increase next year.
“Attendees came from the region and beyond, including areas like Galway, Sligo, Connemara, Roscommon and Westmeath. The October open day is actually one of the smallest open days we have in Mountbellew – we would get 500-600 visitors at our open day in March.
Salesian Agricultural College,
Pallaskenry
Open day: 12 October
Attendance: 200
Principal: Derek O’Donoghue
This year sees slight changes to Pallaskenry’s Level 5 and Level 6 courses. Timing and duration of placements have changed to facilitate optimum learning for the students in the college. Year one of both levels sees the 12-week placement reduced to eight weeks, with second years seeing an extension of work placement from 12 weeks to 16 weeks. O’Donoghue was pleased with the open day and the feedback received. “From the feedback we got, people said they found it informative and welcoming.”
Gurteen
Open day: 5 October
Attendance: 170
Principal: Mike Pearson
Altering the structure of its open day proved successful for Gurteen College. Principal Mike Pearson explained that this year the college introduced practical, on-farm demonstrations, which he believes utilise and outline the positives of Gurteen farm.
“We added more on-farm demonstrations to our open day this year, which was popular on the day. I am delighted to see so many people interested in studying in the agricultural sector.”
Kildalton
Open day: 6 October
Attendance: 400
Principal: Tim Ashmore
The highest-attended open day of the season, Kildalton facilitated students interested in horticulture, equine studies and agriculture.
The open day, which facilitated eight stands, gave information on the variety of enterprises, including dairy, sheep, crops, beef, and other aspects, such as general information on agriculture and safety. Principal Tim Ashmore said it is encouraging to see the optimism in students on the day.
“People like to know what they will be learning and the stands demonstrate that. Some students come for more than one open day because they know they will be coming to Kildalton, which is nice to see.”
Ballyhaise
Open day: 6 October
Attendance: 200
Principal: John Kelly
Ballyhaise attracted a big crowd for its open day two weeks ago. Attendees varied in age, as the popularity of certain courses increased over the past number of years. Principal John Kelly was encouraged by the attendance and interested shown.
“We had a mixture of school leavers and parents, and secondary school students with their schools. Night classes have risen dramatically in popularity over the last number of years, so we met a few of those as well.”
Ballyhaise College will be commencing its new distance course for existing non-agricultural, Level 6 award holders in November. This course is 21 months in duration and places are still available.
Clonakilty
Attendance: 250
Date: 13 Oct
Principal: Majella Moloney
Poor weather did not affect enthusiasm or crowd numbers in Clonakilty, as approximately 250 attended the open day in Cork. A progressive college, Clonakilty received praise for the event, which included talks from recent graduates. Principal Majella Moloney was pleased with the optimism shown. “People had a take home message from the day that there are possibilities in a career in agriculture and opportunity to progress.” CL
Open day dates 2018
While the Teagasc open days have drawn to a close for this season, this is not the last chance to view Teagasc agricultural colleges before September 2018. Further open days for each college will commence again in March, with the dates as follows:
• 1 March – Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick. • 2 March – Kildalton Agricultural and Horticulture College, Co Kilkenny.• 7 March – Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co Galway.• 8 March – Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co Cavan.• 8 March – Botanic Gardens, College of Horticulture, Co Dublin.• 9 March – Clonakilty Agricultural College, Co Cork.• 14 March – Gurteen Agricultural College, Co Tipperary.
For students interested in studying agriculture after secondary school, the last few weeks of open days may have provided them with clarity as to where they want to go and what they want to study. For others, it may not. While it is early days when it comes to applying for courses in September 2018, closing dates come around fast.
Teagasc open day season kicked off on 5 October with Gurteen and the Botanic Gardens, and concluded last Friday in Clonakilty. Numbers attending these open days proved strong and feedback was positive. But what did the colleges themselves think of the events?
Botanic Gardens
Open day: 5 October
Attendance: 50
Principal: John Mulhern
Botanic Gardens, along with Kildalton, is the main educational driver behind horticulture in Teagasc. A more specific industry, the open day provided attendees with everything they needed to know. The event next March will be similar, according to college principal John Mulhern.
“We had a lot of people who are very interested in the horticulture industry. We are now gearing up towards our careers day in March of 2018, when we will be hosting a dual-purpose career open day, which should attract young people.”
Mountbellew
Open day: 11 October
Attendance: 130
Principal: Tom Burke
Mountbellew launched its new Level 8 agricultural engineering course at this year’s Ploughing, with the course also taking centre stage at this year’s open day. Mountbellew continues to develop its reputation for agricultural learning and the development of this course, in conjunction with GMIT, strengthens this. Heading up the course is Dr Carine Gachon, who is encouraged by the level of interest shown so far: “Nineteen students are enrolled in first year, and have started this September. That number is expected to increase next year.
“Attendees came from the region and beyond, including areas like Galway, Sligo, Connemara, Roscommon and Westmeath. The October open day is actually one of the smallest open days we have in Mountbellew – we would get 500-600 visitors at our open day in March.
Salesian Agricultural College,
Pallaskenry
Open day: 12 October
Attendance: 200
Principal: Derek O’Donoghue
This year sees slight changes to Pallaskenry’s Level 5 and Level 6 courses. Timing and duration of placements have changed to facilitate optimum learning for the students in the college. Year one of both levels sees the 12-week placement reduced to eight weeks, with second years seeing an extension of work placement from 12 weeks to 16 weeks. O’Donoghue was pleased with the open day and the feedback received. “From the feedback we got, people said they found it informative and welcoming.”
Gurteen
Open day: 5 October
Attendance: 170
Principal: Mike Pearson
Altering the structure of its open day proved successful for Gurteen College. Principal Mike Pearson explained that this year the college introduced practical, on-farm demonstrations, which he believes utilise and outline the positives of Gurteen farm.
“We added more on-farm demonstrations to our open day this year, which was popular on the day. I am delighted to see so many people interested in studying in the agricultural sector.”
Kildalton
Open day: 6 October
Attendance: 400
Principal: Tim Ashmore
The highest-attended open day of the season, Kildalton facilitated students interested in horticulture, equine studies and agriculture.
The open day, which facilitated eight stands, gave information on the variety of enterprises, including dairy, sheep, crops, beef, and other aspects, such as general information on agriculture and safety. Principal Tim Ashmore said it is encouraging to see the optimism in students on the day.
“People like to know what they will be learning and the stands demonstrate that. Some students come for more than one open day because they know they will be coming to Kildalton, which is nice to see.”
Ballyhaise
Open day: 6 October
Attendance: 200
Principal: John Kelly
Ballyhaise attracted a big crowd for its open day two weeks ago. Attendees varied in age, as the popularity of certain courses increased over the past number of years. Principal John Kelly was encouraged by the attendance and interested shown.
“We had a mixture of school leavers and parents, and secondary school students with their schools. Night classes have risen dramatically in popularity over the last number of years, so we met a few of those as well.”
Ballyhaise College will be commencing its new distance course for existing non-agricultural, Level 6 award holders in November. This course is 21 months in duration and places are still available.
Clonakilty
Attendance: 250
Date: 13 Oct
Principal: Majella Moloney
Poor weather did not affect enthusiasm or crowd numbers in Clonakilty, as approximately 250 attended the open day in Cork. A progressive college, Clonakilty received praise for the event, which included talks from recent graduates. Principal Majella Moloney was pleased with the optimism shown. “People had a take home message from the day that there are possibilities in a career in agriculture and opportunity to progress.” CL
Open day dates 2018
While the Teagasc open days have drawn to a close for this season, this is not the last chance to view Teagasc agricultural colleges before September 2018. Further open days for each college will commence again in March, with the dates as follows:
• 1 March – Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick. • 2 March – Kildalton Agricultural and Horticulture College, Co Kilkenny.• 7 March – Mountbellew Agricultural College, Co Galway.• 8 March – Ballyhaise Agricultural College, Co Cavan.• 8 March – Botanic Gardens, College of Horticulture, Co Dublin.• 9 March – Clonakilty Agricultural College, Co Cork.• 14 March – Gurteen Agricultural College, Co Tipperary. 
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